The Minister for Roads & Road Safety, Hon Melissa Horne MP, has responded to calls for urgent improvements to Vineyard Road.
In her response, the Minister acknowledged Vineyard Road, including the section through Diggers Rest and the freeway overpass, as part of an important primary arterial corridor connecting Sunbury and Melton. This corridor has been identified as requiring future upgrades.
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) regularly receives suggestions for changes across the state’s transport network. These suggestions are assessed based on a range of factors, including:
- The extent to which a solution would improve safety or reduce congestion.
- The volume of road users travelling along the road.
- The need to cater to vulnerable road users.
- Historical safety records.
- The potential impact of upgrades on the surrounding road network.
- Implementation costs.
Currently, DTP has advised that there are no plans to implement changes at this location. However, feedback from the community, along with input from Melton City Council, will be considered as part of DTP’s ongoing assessment and management of Victoria’s road network.
In the meantime, DTP will continue collaborating with Council, developers, and other key stakeholders to review the Vineyard Road corridor and identify potential improvements in the future.
Hume City Councillor Jarrod Bell has expressed concern about “the failure of numerous agencies and developers to adequately undertake work along the corridor to deliver or prioritise commitments outlined in the relevant Precinct Structure Plans for Diggers Rest and Sunbury South.”
Community feedback remains vital to the Allan Labor Government as it continues to enhance road safety and infrastructure across Victoria.